Symbolisim of Derek Wallcot
Derek Walcott, born in the 1930’s, is an accomplished poet born in the West Indies. Walcott won the Nobel Prize for his literary work in 1992. Various themes that are portrayed in Walcott’s literary work include his use of symbolism, as well as his use of emblematic and mythological characters to address issues in non-realistic ways. (contributors, Wikipedia) Two incredible poems by Derek Walcott are “Love After Love” and “The Fist”. These two poems are a display of the author’s use of symbolism. A definition of symbolism is the art or practice of using symbols esp. by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations. (Webster Merriam) “Love after Love” and “The Fist” by Derek Walcott are carried by his use of symbolism, particularly in the terms “Mirror” and “Love”.
“Love after Love”, at first could seem like a hard poem to understand. Walcott doesn’t exactly say what he means, what poet really does?
“The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other 's welcome” (Walcott)
In other word; the moment will arise, while with delight, you will meet yourself incoming, at your personal entrance in your personal reflection, and both will beam at the other’s salutation. Think about what a mirror is, what the functions of a mirror are. Mirrors reflect our images. We use them to see ourselves, usually to put ourselves together. In correlation with the poem that explanation does not fit in the context. Obviously there is a deeper meaning which helps explain the entire meaning of the poem. What Walcott really means by his use of the mirror is you reflected. Not in the way of you seeing yourself, in a since that when you look into a mirror it cannot lie. So symbolically it stands for truth. What’s inside of you is reflected, your soul, staring back at you, contemplating on your
“Love after Love”, at first could seem like a hard poem to understand. Walcott doesn’t exactly say what he means, what poet really does?
“The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other 's welcome” (Walcott)
In other word; the moment will arise, while with delight, you will meet yourself incoming, at your personal entrance in your personal reflection, and both will beam at the other’s salutation. Think about what a mirror is, what the functions of a mirror are. Mirrors reflect our images. We use them to see ourselves, usually to put ourselves together. In correlation with the poem that explanation does not fit in the context. Obviously there is a deeper meaning which helps explain the entire meaning of the poem. What Walcott really means by his use of the mirror is you reflected. Not in the way of you seeing yourself, in a since that when you look into a mirror it cannot lie. So symbolically it stands for truth. What’s inside of you is reflected, your soul, staring back at you, contemplating on your
Cited: contributors, Wikipedia. "Derek Walcott." 29 September 2008. Wikipedia. 27 September 2008 . Roberts, Edgar V. Literature. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2008. Walcott, Derek. "Love After Love." Collected Poems. New York, New York: Farrar Straus , 1948-1984. —. The fist. Straus and Giroux, LLC, 1948-1984. Webster Merriam. Symbolism. 2008. 26 September 2008 .